crosses
noun · verb
Form of cross , plural of cross.
Simple meaning
A geometrical figure made up of two straight lines or bars intersecting each other such that at least one of them is bisected by the other.
Pronunciation
Say it like this:
krawsizSay the bold part a little louder.
IPA pronunciation (US)
ˈkɹɔsɪz
This word is pronounced essentially the same in American and British English, so one transcription covers both.
IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) is a standard way of writing speech sounds.
Definition
Everyday modern meanings first, grouped by part of speech.
noun
plural of cross
A geometrical figure consisting of two straight lines or bars intersecting each other such that at least one of them is bisected by the other.
plural of cross
Any geometric figure having this or a similar shape, such as a cross of Lorraine or a Maltese cross.
plural of cross
A wooden post with a perpendicular beam attached and used (especially in the Roman Empire) to execute criminals (by crucifixion).
plural of crossfigurativefrom Christ's bearing of the cross
A difficult situation that must be endured.
verb
third-person singular of cross
To place across or athwart; to cause to intersect.
third-person singular of cross
Trace a line through or across
third-person singular of cross
To lay or draw something across, such as a line.
third-person singular of cross
To make or form a cross.
Word Aura™
How this word commonly comes across.
Aura for this meaning
This meaning: A geometrical figure consisting of two straight lines or bars intersecting each other such that at least one of them is bisected by the other.
Used this way, crosses is a specialist word that usually carries little praise or criticism of its own. This is a mathematical use: it is defined precisely and belongs to working with figures and calculations rather than to ordinary conversation.
- Emotional tone
- Neutral
- Formality
- Specialist/technical
- Intensity
- Not strongly marked
- How common
- Specialized
- Connotation
- Clinical and technical
- Usage feel
- Technical and specialized
Where it naturally appears
- Mathematics
- Geometry
- Academic writing
- Education/classroom
Usage note
In general conversation this sense usually needs explaining — outside its field, people reach for a plainer word.
Word Aura describes common impressions, not a measurement. Tone changes with sentence, speaker, relationship and situation.
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Dictionary data from Wiktionary via the Free Dictionary API. Simple meanings, combinations and word intelligence are built from verified reference data, no AI is used to load this page.